Paladin the path begins

Luna couldn’t sleep again. She could hear Tar’vid whispering his prayer to Sah’ravel, she knew the saint of the paladins gave them guidance of some kind and she wondered whether it was her he prayed about. Luna rolled onto her side, spying Tar’vid in the moonlight outside her tent. She closed her eyes tentatively as he lay down to sleep. She was destined for him... she knew it from the moment she’d saved his life, before that even... since the visions at the seeing pool. At first, Luna had thought perhaps it had been the visions from Barrow-helm playing on her emotions, but she had been drawn to him instantly and strangely he to her. Luna rolled onto her back again staring up at the tents canvas roof. She knew he wanted her, and why wouldn’t he, she was attractive and besides, humans were always drawn to elves. He would certainly take her for a mate, but would he stay loyal to her?. She had no choice in that regard, as once Keldran elves partnered they were joined with their partner for life, the breaking of the bond could be lethal, though she wasn’t sure if Tar’vid would be affected. The bond wasn’t magic she knew, as her grandfather had offered substantial rewards to the Mage or Mages that could break the ‘curse’ as he had called it after he had tired of his joined after some centuries together. The reward strangely still stood, though the Mage conclaves had abandoned their research hundreds of years ago.

“He is rather handsome though” she whispered to herself, weighing up her options.

But he was also human, which meant he’d age and die in what to her would be only a quarter of her life so far. Yes, she could potentially find another partner, but her father had mourned for over three centuries for her mother and probably still did. Then there were the social ramifications, human and elf romances were tolerated in few elven communities, but if they were to have children... she didn’t want to think of what her father might do. Luna looked over to Tar’vid as an owl called out in the night, it’s mate called back and she smiled. She would see how tomorrow went, they still had several nights together at least. She drifted off to sleep finally, dreams of a perfect future where Tar’vid was an elf and their two... no three children lived happily for all eternity, it never crossed her mind that she had already decided her path.

When Luna woke Tar’vid was already up and about, she propped herself up on her elbows, reaching out a hand and pushing open the tent flap, a flood of light blinding her as an appetising aroma found it’s way to her nostrils.

“Do I smell bacon?” she said aloud, her mouth starting to salivate.

Tar’vid sat down beside her tent, offering her a bowl of food, she looked inside expectantly... indeed it was bacon, she picked up a rasher carefully. He’d made the fat crispy how she liked it, she was certainly becoming more convinced now they were destined to be together. She wolfed it down greedily, manners were secondary when it came to her favourite foods... of which there were many, Yindar be damned in that regard. There were also slices of tomato and a chunk of carrot to eat, but she put the bowl aside, wiping her greasy fingers on the grass.

“I had no idea we had this quality of food,” she said, still chewing her food.

Pigs were a rare commodity in the north since the plague had ravaged much of Vieldon and the surrounding lands, which unfortunately was the more fertile farming land, making Whitecliff the only source of meat in the kingdom as the rest of the region followed Yindar and bred little cattle.

“It seems the former owners had been attacking food caravans from Fernhaven and Whitecliff. There’s maybe another breakfast worth, so enjoy it while it lasts” Tar’vid told her with a smile.

Luna leant forward and kissed him softly, the moment slightly tarnished by the grease smudging his lips. Tar’vid laughed as she wiped the grease away with her finger and she lay back sighing contentedly.

“Do you... it doesn’t matter, it can wait until later,” she told him, shaking her head and sitting up.

Tar’vid looked at her a little confused, then stood up slowly and walked back over to the fire. He came back a few minutes later with a second bowl.

“Here, finish up and we’ll head out when we’ve packed up,” he told her, passing the bowl down.

“You know Tar’vid, a girl could fall in love after this sort of treatment,” she said to him happily, finding he’d given her the last rashers of bacon from his own breakfast.

“Wouldn’t be the worst thing” she heard him whisper under his breath, she was glad he thought elvish hearing was the same as humans.

They were packed up in only a short time and she marvelled at how good together they were. Once they reached the road the sun was shining brightly once more, though the wind was bringing the cold from the northern realms and she shivered a little, envying Tar’vid and his immunity to the cold.

“Could I come with you to Keldran?” he asked after they had been walking a short while.

“Of course not!” she replied with a wry smile.

Tar’vid looked crushed and she stroked his face, feeling the first strands of stubble on his cheek.

“It’s not that I don’t want you to, It’s just the reapers won’t allow you to get more than a mile into our borders, my father isn’t a big fan of humans in general, Paladins even less so,” she told him, kissing his cheek.

“Your father decides who can enter Keldran, he must be high up in the court” Tar’vid replied.

“I should think so, he is the king after all” Luna told him off hand.

Tar’vid stopped suddenly and she nearly broke his arm as she carried on.

“Your father is the king of Keldran?” He asked her, his face frozen in disbelief.

“Of course, I’m sure I mentioned it before,” she told him, pulling his arm to get him moving again.

“Pretty sure you didn’t” he mumbled grumpily as they carried on along the road.

They came upon a lake by late afternoon, Luna guessing it was lake Miana by the distance they had travelled, she had stopped here in the past to bathe on her way home from Barrow-helm.

“Come with me,” she told Tar’vid, pulling him along behind her as she ran to the water’s edge.

Luna stripped naked, running into the water gleefully. It was chilly, but once she was shoulder deep the wind no longer bit into her skin and it was quite pleasant. She noticed Tar’vid still standing on the bank, looking quite flustered and altogether unhappy.

“What’s wrong, the waters fine once you’re out of the wind. Besides you don’t feel the cold” she shouted over, paddling happily.

“I can’t swim,” he said dejectedly, shrugging his shoulders.

Luna swam over to the bank, jumping out the water and starting to undo his sword belt, her skin prickling in the wind.

“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you,” she told him with a laugh, letting his belt fall away. As she pulled his tabard and shirt over his head Luna admired how in shape he was. Tar’vid seemed to accept that he was going in the water regardless of whether he wanted to or not, pulling off his boots and unlacing his trousers. He stood there red faced in front of her. Luna’s eyes wandered downwards and she giggled. Grabbing his arm she pulled him to the water’s edge.

“Come on, stop being such a baby about this,” she said with a laugh.

Tar’vid turned to look at her annoyed.

“In you go!” Luna laughed, pushing him into the water.

He flailed comically before realising he was only waist deep in the lake. Luna splashed about beside him, flicking water at him playfully, pulling him out further into the lake she could see the panic in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, I have you,” she told him with a smile, taking his hands and pulling him along gently.

Tar’vid’s legs thrashed about and he panicked visibly as his feet left the comfort of the lake bed. Luna pulled him close, unable to stop herself kissing him. Luna felt him relax and embrace her as she kept them both afloat. She felt him rub up against her leg, Luna smiling gleefully as Tar’vid went a deep shade of crimson.

“Sorry, I... just...” he stammered hopelessly as she giggled uncontrollably.

“Don’t be sorry” she whispered in his ear.

She stopped teasing him, helping the hapless Paladin to keep himself afloat. Tar’vid took to the water quickly, eventually able to paddle by himself as the sun cast its red glare over the forest. They went ashore as the light began to die, laying on the bank to dry off.

“I think I’d like to camp here, by the lake tonight,” she told Tar’vid looking over at him, his glistening body glowing orange in the low light.

“Why not, it makes a change from forest clearings” he replied, opening up her bag and starting to pull out her tent.

Luna went over and put a hand on his arm softly, gazing into his eyes with fondness.

“I don’t need the tent tonight Tar’vid, not with such a clear sky,” she said to him kindly with a smile.

She looked up to the stars, Faeurn the celestial body shone brightly tonight, and without a cloud in the sky, it felt strangely warm this close to winter.

She rolled out her blanket, laying down as Tar’vid went to lie on a patch of ground nearby. Luna waited until she caught his eye and waved him over. Tar’vid came over slowly, sitting down on the blanket beside her.

“What is it?” he asked nervously.

“Don’t you need to pray before sleeping?” she asked him, running her hand gently over his chest.

“Not tonight, I think the saints will let me off for missing a single night” he replied with a smile.

Tar’vid lay down next to her and as she kissed him he wrapped his arms around her. Luna rolled Tar’vid onto his back, laying on top of him as they stared into each other’s eyes for a moment.

“I’ve never done this before” he whispered nervously.

“Neither have I, but several of my friends have. I think I have a general idea,” she replied unsure but eager.

They were still a short while, before she rolled over onto the blanket, inviting Tar’vid onto her. He hesitated a moment and she leant up, kissing him, he eased himself into her. It wasn’t what she had expected, but he was gentle with her as she started to enjoy herself. Luna wrapped her legs around his waist, feeling exhilarated as she felt something building inside her.

“Luna I think...” Tar’vid started to say. She squeezed him with her legs, pulling him in as tightly as she could, letting out a cry of pleasure.

After a few minutes had passed Tar’vid propped himself up on his hands, kissing her passionately. She was exhausted even though it had been no more than a few minutes of exertion.

“Well!” she said breathing heavily and perspiring profusely.

Tar’vid rolled off her onto his side, running his fingers gently down her thigh.

“I thought it would have lasted longer!” he said and they both burst out laughing as the sun finally set.